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September 7
- New report blames Phison's pre-release firmware for SSD failures — not Microsoft’s August patch for Windows
➀ A Chinese Facebook group PCDIY! identified pre-release Phison firmware as the root cause of recent SSD failures, contradicting initial blame on Microsoft's Windows 11 update;
➀ Affected drives used unreleased engineering firmware, while consumer SSDs with official firmware remain stable;
➁ Phison and Microsoft previously denied responsibility, but new findings suggest overlapping complexities in firmware, hardware, and OS updates.
- Multiple undersea cable cuts in the Red Sea, hampering internet performance — international cables connecting Europe, Asia, and the Middle East are compromised
➀ Two major submarine cables (SEA-ME-WE 4 and IMEWE) in the Red Sea were severed, causing latency spikes for Microsoft Azure users in South Asia and the Gulf;
➁ Microsoft rerouted traffic via longer paths, while repairs may take weeks due to geopolitical risks and scarce repair resources;
➂ This marks the second major cable disruption in the Red Sea since 2024, highlighting vulnerabilities in global Internet infrastructure.
- Eight-year-old gaming PC with Nvidia GTX 1080 found in the trash room gets a second life — offered a substantial upgrade to the finder despite age
➀ A vintage 2017 gaming PC with Intel i7-7700 and GTX 1080 GPU was rescued from dumpster;
➁ Found fully functional except storage, offering substantial upgrade over a 12-year-old system;
➂ Upgrades like SATA SSD expansion and RAM boost highlight ongoing value of legacy hardware
September 6
- AMD launches Ryzen 5 9500F, claiming up to 24% faster than Ryzen 5 7500F in gaming — Zen 5 chip launches as a China-exclusive for now
➀ AMD launches Ryzen 5 9500F as a China-exclusive Zen 5 CPU with 6 cores and 5 GHz boost clock.
➁ Claims up to 24% gaming gains over Ryzen 5 7500F, averaging 15% better performance in benchmarks.
➂ Priced at ~$180 (1,299 Yuan), but current pricing strategy may limit competitiveness vs AMD's other Zen 5 chips.
- SAMA P1200 Platinum power supply review
➀ The SAMA P1200 Platinum power supply exceeds 80 Plus Platinum efficiency standards, achieving 93.2% efficiency at 230V input, ideal for high-performance systems;
➁ Compact 150mm form factor with premium Japanese capacitors ensures reliability and thermal stability, backed by a 10-year warranty;
➂ Priced competitively at $190, it challenges established brands despite limited PCIe connectors for modern graphics cards.
- Seagate Exos M 30TB HDD review: laser-powered HAMR recording tech revitalizes the enterprise HDD market
➀ Seagate's Exos M 30TB introduces HAMR technology, achieving a breakthrough 30TB capacity with 275MB/s sustained write speeds.
➁ The drive uses laser-heated media and Mozaic 3+ platform for higher storage density while maintaining power efficiency at 9.5W.
➂ Priced at $20/TB, it targets enterprise users but faces competition from smaller drives, with SMR variants reaching up to 36TB.
- Amazon Echo is reportedly an internet vampire that uses gigabytes of data per day despite being unused, says owner
➀ An Amazon Echo user reports two Echo Show devices consumed over 4GB/day despite minimal usage;
➁ Experts suggest potential causes including software updates, cached video content, or Amazon Sidewalk sharing;
➂ Users advised to monitor network logs or unplug devices to eliminate privacy/data risks.
September 5
- DIYer creates the PC gaming handheld of your widest dreams – 32:9 AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme device showcased in driving games
➀ A Chinese DIY enthusiast showcased a custom 32:9 ultra-wide PC gaming handheld powered by AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme, demonstrating smooth 60fps gameplay in racing titles like Asphalt Legends and SnowRunner;
➁ The device uses a rare 32:9 Asus ProArt portable display (1,920 x 550 pixels) capped at 60Hz, with estimated high costs due to premium components;
➂ While innovative, commercial alternatives like OneXPlayer X1 Air with 11-inch 16:10 screen and Intel Ultra 200V chips gain attention for balancing portability and performance.
- Portable 3D-printed device can produce enough drinking water from thin air for a family of four every day - Water from Air project can capture 1.6 gallons of drinking water per day
➀ A 3D-printed device by graduates uses atmospheric water generation (AWG) to produce up to 6 liters (1.6 gallons) of drinking water daily.
➁ The modular design leverages metal-organic frameworks and solar-powered condensation cycles, targeting affordability and global scalability.
➂ While still a prototype, the project highlights 3D printing’s potential in solving water scarcity amid global sanitation challenges.
- Lenovo shows off ThinkBook VertiFlex laptop and Smart Motion dock concepts at IFA – rotating displays and AI-powered docks that follow your every move
➀ Lenovo unveiled the ThinkBook VertiFlex Concept, featuring a 14-inch display that manually rotates between landscape and portrait modes without keyboard adjustment;
➁ The Smart Motion Concept dock integrates AI-driven motorized gimbals to track user movements and voice, optimizing ergonomic positioning;
➂ Both concepts emphasize Lenovo's experimental approach, potentially influencing future commercial products despite uncertain release timelines.
- Lenovo’s Legion Go 2 packs Ryzen Z2 Extreme and an OLED display — thick gaming handheld starts at $1,049
➀ Lenovo Legion Go 2 features AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme, OLED display (1920x1200, 144Hz), up to 32GB RAM, and Hall effect joysticks.
➁ The handheld is thicker (1.66” with controllers) but includes a larger 74WHr battery and 2TB storage, priced from $1,049.
➂ Lenovo also announced the LOQ Tower desktop with AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX and NVIDIA RTX 50-series GPUs, starting at $999.99.
- Lenovo's IFA launches include 4K 240 Hz OLED gaming monitors — Legion Pro 7 laptops features Ryzen 9 9955HX3D with an RTX 5080
➀ Lenovo unveiled three OLED gaming monitors at IFA 2025, including 4K 240Hz Legion Pro 32UD-10/27UD-10 and QHD 280Hz 27Q-10;
➁ The flagship Legion Pro 7 gaming laptop features AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D CPU, NVIDIA RTX 5080 GPU, and a 16" 240Hz OLED display;
➂ Priced from $699 (monitors) to $2,399 (laptop), products will launch between October-November 2025.
August 1
- AMD's Ryzen 7 9800X3D gaming chip champ drops to $449 at Amazon — $29 off its MSRP
➀ AMD's Ryzen 7 9800X3D gaming CPU drops to $449 at Amazon, offering the best 8-core gaming performance;
➁ The processor utilizes 3D V-Cache technology and improved thermal design, delivering 8% performance gains over its predecessor;
➂ Dominates Intel in 1080p gaming benchmarks, especially in esports titles like CS2 and Valorant.
- SK hynix dethrones Samsung to become world's top-selling memory maker for the first time — success mostly attributed to its HBM3 dominance for Nvidia's AI GPUs
➀ SK Hynix surpassed Samsung in Q2 2025 with $9.66B memory revenue (36.2% market share), marking its first leadership since 1983.
➁ Dominance driven by HBM3/HBM3E supply for NVIDIA's AI GPUs, while Samsung faced delays and price cuts in the HBM race.
➂ The shift signals AI-centric demand reshaping memory industry profits, with SK Hynix advancing HBM4 R&D and Samsung seeking AMD/startup partnerships.
- 3D printing in space passes industry testing milestone for fabrication of spacecraft and associated equipment — promising future for zero gravity 3D printing
➀ Horizon Microtechnologies' 3D-printed components passed critical outgassing tests under the ECSS-Q-ST-70-02C standard, enabling their use in spacecraft manufacturing;
➀ The International Space Station (ISS) has successfully tested 3D printing in microgravity using low-temperature plastics;
➂ Specialized coating technology addresses material volatility, opening new possibilities for on-demand part fabrication in space.
- Dell's back-to-school sale takes $350 off the price of Alienware's 4K QD-OLED curved gaming monitor
➀ Dell offers a $350 discount on the Alienware AW3225QF 4K QD-OLED curved gaming monitor during its back-to-school sale, dropping the price to $849;
➁ The 32-inch monitor features a 240Hz refresh rate, HDR10/Dolby Vision, and exceptional color accuracy, earning Tom's Hardware's Editor's Choice award;
➂ Requires a high-end GPU to fully utilize its 4K resolution and performance, offering an immersive 1700R curved display for gamers.
- XeSS SDK 2.1 release opens up Intel's framegen tech to compatible AMD and Nvidia GPUs — Xe Low Latency also goes cross-platform if framegen is enabled
➀ Intel's XeSS 2.1 SDK enables cross-platform frame generation for AMD/Nvidia GPUs including GTX 10-series and RX 5000 series, though RTX 30/RX 6000+ is recommended;
➁ XeLL low-latency mode now works on non-Intel GPUs but requires active frame generation, with developers needing to adopt the updated SDK for implementation;
➂ Despite the openness, adoption is limited with only 22 games supporting XeSS 2, highlighting challenges against entrenched solutions like FSR and DLSS.
- Battlefield 6 requirements suggest it'll run on surprisingly modest PCs — EA VP says it still won't work on Steam Deck, though
➀ Battlefield 6 (BF6) requires surprisingly modest hardware, needing a 10th-gen Intel or Ryzen 3000 CPU and RTX 3060 Ti/RX 6700 XT GPU for optimal performance;
➁ EA confirms the game won’t run on Steam Deck at launch due to discrete GPU requirements but may work on handhelds with external GPUs or AMD Strix Halo chips;
➂ The free-to-play approach drives lower specs, contrasting with recent AAA titles demanding cutting-edge hardware.
- MLPerf Client 1.0 AI benchmark released — new testing toolkit sports a GUI, covers more models and tasks, and supports more hardware acceleration paths
➀ MLPerf Client 1.0 introduces a user-friendly GUI and expands support for Meta's Llama 2/3.1, Microsoft Phi, and experimental models;
➁ Enhanced hardware acceleration paths now cover Qualcomm, Apple, Intel, and NVIDIA devices via diverse SDKs and frameworks;
➂ New tasks like code analysis and large-context summarization enable deeper evaluation of AI performance across integrated and discrete hardware.
- How to tweak your Windows 11 and Windows 10 setup with Winaero Tweaker — easily remove ads, tracking, AI copilot, and more
➀ Winaero Tweaker is a free utility that enables deep customization of Windows 11/10, including removing ads, disabling telemetry/data tracking, and eliminating AI Copilot;
➁ The tool allows advanced users to freeze system states for benchmarking by disabling driver/Windows updates, while also restoring nostalgic features like classic shutdown shortcuts;
➂ Caution is advised when disabling critical security features like User Account Control (UAC), as it increases system vulnerability risks.
July 31
- The best CPU for gaming, AMD's 9800X3D, hits an all-time low price of £399 at Amazon — The lowest price in the UK right now
➀ AMD's Ryzen 7 9800X3D, dubbed the 'best gaming CPU,' hits a historic low price of £399 at Amazon UK;
➁ The processor leverages 3D V-Cache technology for superior gaming performance, excelling in esports and 1080p resolution with 8% gains over the previous generation;
➂ Thermal design improvements and unlocked overclocking capabilities make it a top choice for high-performance gaming builds.
- Adata XPG Lancer CUDIMM RGB DDR5-9200 review: Bleeding-edge memory with bragging rights included
➀ The XPG Lancer CUDIMM RGB DDR5-9200 C42 offers top-tier speed (up to 9200MT/s) and a sleek recycled aluminum design with RGB lighting, though compatibility is limited to Intel systems.
➁ AMD Zen 5 processors failed to support its 9200MT/s speed, while Intel's Core Ultra 9 285K struggled with Gear 2 mode, leading to performance compromises.
➂ Priced at $279.99 for 48GB, it's competitively positioned against DDR5-8400 kits but demands premium pricing for enthusiasts seeking cutting-edge performance.
- Samsung reportedly slashes HBM3 prices to woo Nvidia — cuts could put the heat on rivals SK hynix and Micron as company attempts to spur AI turnaround
➀ Samsung reports a 94% profit plunge in its chip division, driven by U.S. export restrictions and inventory corrections;
➁ The company pins recovery hopes on HBM3E production cost reductions to secure Nvidia's AI GPU supply chain, challenging SK Hynix and Micron;
➂ A $16.5 billion Tesla partnership and geopolitical risks, including U.S. tariffs, add complexity to Samsung's AI-driven turnaround strategy.
- Nvidia confirms end of Game Ready driver support for Maxwell and Pascal GPUs — affected products will get optimized drivers through October 2025
➀ NVIDIA confirms discontinuation of Game Ready drivers for Maxwell and Pascal GPUs post-October 2025, transitioning to quarterly security updates until 2028;
➁ Legacy GPUs like GTX 1080 Ti will lose DLSS/ray-tracing optimization but remain functional for non-RT titles;
➂ Windows 10 users receive extended driver support through October 2026 despite Microsoft ending OS updates in late 2025.
- China raises security concerns over Nvidia's H20 Chips — hardware may expose user data or hidden tracking functions
➀ China's Cyberspace Administration questioned Nvidia's H20 GPU over potential data security risks and hidden tracking functions linked to U.S. legislative proposals.
➁ The H20 is a modified export-compliant GPU for China, lacking tracking features, yet concerns may stem from efforts to boost domestic AI chip adoption (e.g., Cambricon, Huawei).
➂ Analysts view the scrutiny as symbolic, unlikely to escalate to a ban, as China still relies heavily on Nvidia's CUDA software ecosystem.
July 6
- Activision takes Call of Duty: WWII offline after hackers apparently disrupted the game with RCE exploits — malicious code wreaks havoc on PC gamers as bad actors take complete control of your computer
➀ Activision suspended Call of Duty: WWII servers after hackers exploited unpatched RCE vulnerabilities, gaining unauthorized PC control;
➁ The 2017 game's P2P matchmaking system and outdated anti-cheat tech (pre-Ricochet) amplified security risks;
➂ Hackers triggered Notepad pop-ups, forced shutdowns, and illicit content injections, prompting Microsoft Store removal despite Steam/Game Pass availability.
- FolderDrive USB-C flash storage drags computer folder icon into the physical world – Skeuomorphism in reverse
➀ The FolderDrive is a whimsical USB-C flash storage device shaped like a physical MacOS folder icon, offering 128GB capacity at $40;
➁ Designed as a 'conversation starter,' it emphasizes minimalistic aesthetics with 3D-printed construction, though performance specs remain undisclosed;
➂ Part of a broader trend of reverse skeuomorphism, it follows nostalgic designs like floppy disk-shaped USB drives and WinRAR-themed merchandise.
- Nvidia's first desktop PC chip lands this month — Asus leads with Ascend GX10 Grace Blackwell desktop platform
➀ Asus will launch its Ascend GX10 mini-PC powered by Nvidia's GB10 Grace Blackwell SiP on July 22, targeting AI development with data center-level performance.
➁ The GB10 integrates an Arm-based Grace CPU and Blackwell GPU, delivering 1 PetaFLOPS FP4 AI performance and 128GB unified memory, comparable to Apple's M4 Pro.
➂ Priced around $3,000, the system positions itself as a compact AI workstation, though general-purpose benchmarks show performance similar to mid-tier mobile chips like Snapdragon X Elite.
- Nintendo Switch 2 prices might climb due to tariff changes — US hikes Vietnam tariffs to 20%, up from 10% when the console launched
➀ U.S. raises Vietnam tariffs from 10% to 20%, impacting Nintendo's Switch 2 pricing strategy;
➁ Switch 2 sold 3.5 million units on launch but faces shortages and geopolitical challenges;
➂ Potential price hike from $450 to $500 if tariffs are implemented.
July 5
- Bitcoin investor moves $8 billion worth of crypto after 14 years, originally bought for less than $210,000 — 80,000 BTC transferred from dormant Satoshi-era wallet
➀ A dormant Bitcoin whale transferred 80,000 BTC (worth $8.6B) after 14 years, purchased for under $210k in 2011.
➁ The transaction involved 8 Satoshi-era wallets and set a record, with speculation pointing to investor Roger Ver.
➂ Motives range from legal deals to inheritance, causing significant market impact.